Posted by Tekahera on January 27, 2000 at 08:42:34:
And thus is that which stands before you: Tekah, shaman of Akan. Added Thu Jan 27 10:23:08 2000 at level 9: Added Thu Jan 27 10:25:22 2000 at level 9: Added Thu Jan 27 10:27:12 2000 at level 9: Added Thu Jan 27 10:30:19 2000 at level 9: Added Thu Jan 27 10:33:40 2000 at level 9:
Description
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A little shaman is here, dressed in battle clothes. He is so little that a
middle sized human could stumble over him. He wields a glistening sword,
and the way he moves it around tells you he could cut a string on its length
with it. In the other hand, an immense shield (well, for a dwarf, quite
EVERYTHING is immense) is wielded with almost no effort. A shirt covers
his body and its sleeves are stretched to complete tightness around his great
muscles. Over his chest, a golden breastplate is adorned with a beautiful
silver phoenix. Since the shirt is too long for a normal dwarf, it falls down
to form some sort of skirt, covered by thin golden plates to provide him with
protection and mobility during combat. Under this golden battle-skirt, he wears
tight grey leggings. Black leather is tied with ropes around his feet and up to
his knees, in some sort of "boots". Nevertheless, they seem pretty worn, as they
met the dirt of countless roads until now. His head, adorned with a beautiful
golden helmet, is rathered disproportioned if compared to the rest of his body.
But again, so are all dwarves. Long brown hair falls over his shoulders and a
small beard covers his mouth. His eyes, of a deep green, express a strong passion
for the Light, for Victory and for Knowledge.
Role
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Added Thu Jan 27 10:19:02 2000 at level 9:
-= Prologue =-
Returning from an adventure through the mountains, when I discovered the beautiful
palace of the Maran, I stepped through the door of the Inn looking for a good rest,
a good drink and perhaps a good laugh. I had none of the last two, but instead, I
met an old giant shaman. He told me many things, some that I understood, some that
I didn't, and others that I didn't want to understand. He told me about the Light
and the Dark, he told me about the Gods and the mortals, he told me about the
cabals and what does each want. All in all, he told me many things, and one of them
was that I should keep a written record of my experiences, a journal as he called it.
I, for instance, cannot see any useful purpose for such a thing, but I guess that later
I can bind all my writings in a book, and they would serve for guidance to younger
ones. For the moment, since I do not know the writing yet, I will keep these memories
in my mind, for further recollection.
-= The Wide World =-
I was born under a shining star in the city of Akan, under the roof of a priest, my
father, Saradin by his name. He preached the Light to our neighbours and to other
travellers as well. He was well known for his healing powers, and much requested at
marriages and burials, to perform the ceremonies. My mother, a very beautiful woman,
wanted me to become a miner, like most of the people we knew. "The money is under
the ground" she used to say as argument against my father, who wanted me to continue
on his tracks and become a priest. "Shrewed is your tongue, woman! Do not listen to
her, God, for she knows naught what she is speaking". And thus, I had to follow my
father's will. He wanted to give me a high education and spent all the money we had
from the selling of the ale my mother was brewing on sending me to the Academy in
Galadon. At the age of 30, I left my natal city behind and faced the wide world.
-= The Academy of Galadon =-
At the Academy, my father registered me in a theological course, the beginnings of
the path I was to follow. I learned many things at the Academy. For instance, I
found out how to cause wounds in one that has angered the Gods. I also learned how
to cure light wounds caused in battle, and how to wield a sword. In the last field,
I was the first in my group, as I was a close friend to the blacksmith in Akan
(who, must be agreed, is an ace in the art of weaponry) and he taught me many of the
things I know nowadays. I was very afraid the last day at the Academy, the day we had
to pass the final test. A veteran was putting us, one by one, in a vast cavern, with
no food or water where fleshy creatures, strange beasts and soldiers of metal or
wood were our only companions, and aggressive they were. However, it was only faith
that I needed, for couraged showed itself soon after. It didn't take me long before
I got the hang of that war, and soon I even took pleasure in devastating the evil
creatures. The glow of Victory was iminent, and with the ivy wreath set on my head
as a crown, I left the Academy.
-= The Evil =-
But the Academy hid from me a most horrible thing that smashed me right in the face
as soon as I entered the world. In our groups we were like friends, some even brothers,
we did not care if one came from the Underdark, another from Darsylon or the evil fort
of Gehenna. Even the creatures in the cavern, they called them "evil", were but a
mild representation of what we were to meet outside. Organised crime, bribed arbiters,
an evil Empire that was about to conquer Thera. It was horrible! I was so depressed
that I wanted to take away my own life. But it was no need - at each dark corner I was
passing, ten assassins at the least were waiting to stab me as soon as I'd turn my head.
-= The Phoenix =-
I soon understood Galadon was not a place for me. As I looked upon my soul, I
realized I had a mild passion for nature. And so I took my sword, put on my boots
and left Galadon. My travels took me through places that few have ever seen before.
Some of a rare beauty, others where dwell creatures like summoned from the nineth
circle of Hell. One day, as I was travelling through a canyon, a deadly thought passed
through my mind. What use the life if I will run all the time, from civilisation, from
my kin. Soon, even nature would reject me. I wanted to climb the vertical walls of the
canyon, then jump down into the abyss. But I didn't have the time to finish my thought
that a light coming from inside me lifted my spirit. I had no more of those dark thoughts
as a silver pheonix rose from a nest in a wall of the canyon. I soon understood it was
a sign from the Gods, that they wanted not my doom.
-= The Maran =-
Dazed by this event, I returned to the Inn of the Eternal Star, starting point of all
my ventures. I was looking for answers, and a veteran warrior had just the one I wanted.
I spinned my tale of the phoenix, and he knew what I spoke of. It was the bird of
Shokai the Skyborn, Lord of the Maran. It had the great quality to fade away any bad
thought in the minds of those that seen it, to bring up a rebirth of their souls. And
this was what happened to me. I was now hopeful again, and I remembered the day that
my father brought me at the gates of the Academy. I went in the search of the shrine
of Shokai, and I figured it must not be far from the canyon where I had seen the phoenix.
After days of travelling through the forests and climbing the high mountains, I had
reached the Palace of the Maran. There, using the concentration that I was taught at
the Academy, I prayed to the Silverwinged, but it seemed I was too excited to focus on
the prayer. I left him a scroll instead, where I told who I were and why I wanted to
join the Marans. I can now only hope he will have a positive image of me. I returned
to the Inn again, and so I met the wise shaman who advised me to write these lines.